Nature publication about methane emissions from the Nord Stream subsea pipeline leaks

January 16, 2025

A team of international researchers, including the German Weather Service (DWD) and the German Environment Agency (UBA), has published a study in the prestigious journal Nature on the amount of methane released into the atmosphere as a result of the Nord Stream pipeline explosions in September 2022.

The study's findings are based on comparisons between calculations of pipeline release and atmospheric simulations that relied on satellite data and ICOS measurements. The results show that 465 ± 20 thousand tons of methane were released, which is approximately one-quarter of Germany's annual methane emissions. Notably, this largest-ever observed single event accounts for only 0.1% of global anthropogenic methane emissions in 2022, highlighting the need for a wide range of individual sources to be reduced.

The study, which was supported by BMDV with HoTC (grant 50EW2013A) and by BMBF with ITMS (grant 01LK2102B), underscores the importance of establishing an Integrated Greenhouse Gas Monitoring System for Germany and demonstrates the value of ensemble calculations in determining methane emissions. The results will be further developed within the ITMS project.

More detailed information about this study is also shared through the DWD LinkedIn post.


 

Go to Editor View